| DATE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION |
| 1743 | Born April 13 in Shadwell, Virginia. |
| 1767 | Admitted to the Bar. |
| 1769 | Elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. |
| 1774 | In A Summary View of the Rights of British America he argues that the British Parliament does not have authority to rule the colonies. |
| 1776 | Drafts the Declaration of Independence. |
| 1776-1779 | Legislator in Virginia. Reforms laws relating to the ownership of private property. Introduces the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, which is finally enacted in 1786. |
| 1779-1781 | Governor of Virginia. |
| 1782 | Writes Notes on the State of Virginia. Delegate to the Continental Congress. |
| 1784-1789 | Minister to France. |
| 1789-1794 | Secretary of State in George Washington's government. |
| 1797 | Elected Vice-President of the United States of America under John Adams. |
| 1800 | Elected President. |
| 1803 | Purchases Louisiana from France. |
| 1804 | Re-elected President. |
| 1809 | Retires from public life. |
| 1826 | Dies July 4. |
